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The Thing from Another World
The Thing from Another World
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The Thing from Another World

The Thing from Another World

1951
Sci-fi, Horror
1h 27m
Scientist at an Arctic research station discover a spacecraft buried in the ice. (imdb)

Directed by:

Howard Hawks, Christian Nyby

Screenwriter:

Howard Hawks, Ben Hecht, John W. Campbell Jr., Charles Lederer

Starring:

Margaret Sheridan, Kenneth Tobey, Robert Cornthwaite, Douglas Spencer, James R. Young, Dewey Martin, James Arness

Genres:

Sci-fi, Horror

Country:

USA

Language:

English
imdb IMDb
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The Thing from Another World

1951
Sci-fi, Horror
1h 27m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 54.76% from 814 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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kasperlKasperL
Rated 14 Apr 2019
70
65th
While it, of course, has nothing on Carpenter's incomparable remake, this is a solid little sci fi flick with some very cool scenes in which the titular thing gets, respectively*, torched and electrocuted. (* For those of you who are learners of English, please consult your dictionaries for the quite essential difference in meaning between "respectively" and "respectfully".)
Rated 14 Apr 2019
timecapsuleTimeCapsule
Rated 13 Aug 2019
68
61st
The thing about "The Thing...from Another World"(1951) is that, it's hard not to compare it to "The Thing"(1982), and the thing is, that's not totally fair. However, that's not gonna stop me from comparing "The Thing"(2011) to "The Thing"(1982). So I guess, while the intelligent extraterrestrial carrot/Frankenstein's monster thing from "The Thing"(1951) doesn't exactly compare to the frightening shapeshifter of John Carpenter's "The Thing", however for 50's sci-fi fare, it's fairly entertaining.
Rated 13 Aug 2019
paxtonPaxton
Rated 02 Jan 2014
67
54th
Enjoyable in that fifties sort of way where everybody has a good chuckle about what they've learned after thawing out a murderous alien. This is one of those rare cases where the remake was actually made after the original, or something.
Rated 02 Jan 2014
mwgerbmwgerb
Rated 25 Jul 2011
60
65th
Fairly conventional monster movie take on the story, but it does have several good moments. To note: the banter works great, the kerosene scene works well, and the ending is fairly satisfying. It's sub-par when compared to Carpenter's version, but well above average compared to similar movies of the time.
Rated 25 Jul 2011
valenzettiValenzetti
Rated 03 Mar 2011
85
72nd
It still gets to me when they spread out to trace the outline of the ship in the ice, and they stand there transfixed in a circle like they're playing a neighborhood game, these wise-cracking professionals suddenly turned into gaping children. It's sad that all these years later movies still have trouble finding the naturalistic, mature gender dynamics it breezes through.
Rated 03 Mar 2011
astfglAstfgl
Rated 14 Aug 2008
60
35th
An interesting movie for its time, but it lacks any sense of suspenseful timing. Even when considered on its own merits (and not compared to the John Carpenter version), the movie squanders most of the truly tense moments, and it lacks the sense of impending doom that films like these thrive on. It comes across more as a triumph of man's ingenuity and teamwork than a dark look at an extraterrestrial menace.
Rated 14 Aug 2008
barkoBarko
Rated 05 Nov 2020
88
82nd
Doctor loves Vegetable-man, but the world wasn't ready for their love
Rated 05 Nov 2020
dyannethorneDyanneThorne
Rated 05 Aug 2019
72
68th
I had to remind myself that when this came out in '51 the plot would have been novel and fresh. Didn't really buy that the alien was supposed to be super-intelligent since most of the time it just waddled around like Frankenstein's monster and it took it two days to figure out how to cut of the power. Still, lots of atmosphere and a couple of really nifty shots like the one of the round shape under the ice.
Rated 05 Aug 2019
ottott
Rated 15 Apr 2017
65
46th
Note to self: Check the botanist's ethics before hiring.
Rated 15 Apr 2017
hawkinsHawkins
Rated 03 Jun 2016
57
21st
Contrary to the 80's incarnation this has no 'mafia game' elimination format, and nobody actually dies. So as horror it feels more like a failed bear attack on a ski resort than the bedlam of paranoia in Carpenter's vision. As science fiction it has more to say (take the botanist's hardline on collective knowledge being worth individual sacrifice) but in doing so spouts some sketchy factoids (carnivorous plants only display reactive nervous systems, not patterns of thought). Ultimately obsolete.
Rated 03 Jun 2016
bofbof
Rated 03 Jan 2015
62
45th
Apart from the fact that it seems to grudgingly admit that it can never make an intellectual super-carrot scary, this is actually quite good; there's a reason it's been used as the inspiration for countless other movies.
Rated 03 Jan 2015
pompousasspompousass
Rated 04 Mar 2009
100
98th
Claustrophobic atmosphere; close-packed images; some truly chilling effects. Of its kind, nearly perfect. Nyby directed it, but Howard Hawks supervised it, and it unmistakably bears his stamp: group portraits of people bonded together by their isolation in a hostile wilderness and by their mutual dependence on bulky clothing, coffee breaks, and wiseacre banter.
Rated 04 Mar 2009
juntakinte99juntakinte99
Rated 08 Sep 2021
66
30th
Even with the science talk, it's more a monster movie than a sci-fi story that speculates on the world. Cinematically, Hawks has his tropes all over it--especially in the overlapping dialogue. But the characters are paper thin: including a soldier who wants to fight, a scientist in it for a discovery, and a reporter out to tell one helluva story. Sheridan is the best part, but she's relegated to taking notes & bringing coffee. Marginal recommendation if you want to see the picture's influence.
Rated 08 Sep 2021
begoniabolbegoniabol
Rated 30 Oct 2020
40
38th
It's a very slow-moving movie and I unfortunately kept comparing it to Carpenter's The Thing. I just felt like the 80's version is much more mysterious and scary than this.
Rated 30 Oct 2020
yiannosYiannos
Rated 10 Apr 2020
60
48th
The extent of Hawk's involvement behind the camera is largely academic at this point. What remains is a moderately successful early Hollywood sci-fi with social commentary that isn't a patch on Carpenter's remake or other genre films from the same decade like Body Snatchers, but it has a few good scenes and it gets the job done. It's also worth a look for obvious historical reasons, especially for genre devotees.
Rated 10 Apr 2020
oskarhuoskarhu
Rated 03 May 2017
72
24th
A disappointingly mild and non-eventful film.
Rated 03 May 2017
nathan_sNathan S
Rated 04 Oct 2011
2
21st
The few good things about it, like a strong sense of isolation and unnerving paranoia, can't help this dated film get past its own silly politics. Its militaristic mindset is the exact opposite attitude of the same year's much superior The Day the Earth Stood Still. Not to mention it moves at such a quick pace that it wastes any potential for building suspense.
Rated 04 Oct 2011
luna6ixLuna6ix
Rated 02 Oct 2011
78
66th
One of the best early 50's monster flicks out there, and it really doesn't have much monster in it. It is, however, completely in the shadow of the absolutely superb Carpenter remake.
Rated 02 Oct 2011
jodamicojodamico
Rated 20 Sep 2010
95
99th
The guy who said "It comes across more as a triumph of man's ingenuity and teamwork than a dark look at an extraterrestrial menace" hits on exactly why it's such a good film, but treats it as a failing.
Rated 20 Sep 2010
hehejajahehejaja
Rated 04 Jun 2008
80
76th
Awesome. You can see a lot of things here that Carpenter must have further developed not only in his remake, but throughout his whole career; the interaction between the men - and the one charming woman (played with superb elegance by Margaret Sheridan) - is most prominently notable. Smart direction, excellent acting and primitive but effective mise-en-scène makes this a sweet delight.
Rated 04 Jun 2008
kem1kem1
Rated 12 Jun 2024
60
63rd
While it won't quite strike maybe the same level of fear that it might've in the '50s, it's still entertaining, and has some surprisingly humorous dialogue. The only issue I had was sometimes that dialogue was hard to catch, as the characters talk fast, and for some reason multiple characters like to talk at the same time, frequently, in this film.
Rated 12 Jun 2024
wolfbrotherWolfbrother
Rated 25 Oct 2023
90
84th
The first adaptation of John W. Campbell's "Who Goes There?". The cast is good, the film is shot well, and a vegetable-like humanoid from Outer Space. The mind boggles!
Rated 25 Oct 2023
jpfergusonJPFerguson
Rated 02 Jun 2023
75
83rd
One reason to view as many films as possible is to increase the chances of watching a movie that is much better than anticipated, which is what happened to me here. A very simple story told with a directness and restraint that is highly admirable, and with such rapid-fire and overlapping dialogue - in combination with the constant threat of the titular ‘thing' - that as a viewer you have to always be alert. Riveting!
Rated 02 Jun 2023
velvet_croweVelvet Crowe
Rated 14 May 2023
60
62nd
Its framing of the monster is simultaneously cool and lame. They use a lot of lighting to hide the weaknesses of the costume which is surprisingly effective in conveying its menace. The idea behind its physiology is cool, but it never matters beyond its weakness which would frankly kill a normal person (or other monsters for that matter) anyway. The narrative is otherwise disposable, with cheesy archetypes for characters and moral dilemmas that are treated childishly.
Rated 14 May 2023
glumpy99glumpy_99
Rated 04 Jan 2021
74
47th
*SPOILERS* Stodgy and deliberate 50s sci-fi (perhaps unfairly) suffers by comparison to Carpenter's more intriguingly (and faithfully) plotted and realised remake, but this is still a fun genre entry, if a little too pretentious minded at times. Some nice jump scares (especially the sudden reappearance of a dog) and solemn and sincere work by the cast help things along.
Rated 04 Jan 2021
darrenDarren
Rated 04 Nov 2018
75
65th
Smartly made
Rated 04 Nov 2018
kodekode
Rated 03 Mar 2017
37
2nd
A film that would've felt dated 200 years ago.
Rated 03 Mar 2017
killgazmokillgazmo
Rated 27 Oct 2016
11
79th
This was great. I was born long, LONG after black and white, and i thoroughly enjoyed this, its a wonder so much of the famous films of the time are pure hilarious cheesy crap when compared to this. It has a lot more balls than house on haunted hill for example. A gem of the time.
Rated 27 Oct 2016
driscarpindriscarpin
Rated 30 Dec 2015
81
68th
Cuidado! Vegetais comunistas!
Rated 30 Dec 2015
sirstuckeySirStuckey
Rated 20 Aug 2015
65
45th
Pretty good, but does suffer in the modern age with the fact that The Thing is way better. Also the alien in this is quite lame. I don't mind the biology of it and the story behind that, but it looked rather boring, like a knockoff Frankenstein.
Rated 20 Aug 2015
orangeamelOrangeAmel
Rated 05 Dec 2013
62
43rd
It lacked suspension and the feelings of fear, surprise or catastrophy - all heroes acted as they are dealing with aliens on their daily basis. Most of humoristic scenes were not really funny. Also, the action is fast regarding the age of the movie and too fast to be believable. The movie made the scientist a bad guy and the imbecile captain a hero... I really think "the plant" was smarter, but not than humanity in general but from heroes. Extra points for a "bondage scene" - my favourite part.
Rated 05 Dec 2013
sidehackersidehacker
Rated 19 Aug 2013
69
50th
There's a well-crafted genre film here, and perhaps that's Nyby's contribution, but honestly, it would work if there wasn't even a monster. This is a bunch of pals shooting the breeze in the middle of a deathly crisis. One almost gets the sense that Hawks was intentionally undermining the horror elements by loading a film with this casual banter. The comradery in a "defending the fort" story anticipates Rio Bravo and it's a refreshing change from the usual narratives in horror.
Rated 19 Aug 2013
bentienbentien
Rated 13 May 2013
66
63rd
A lot of genre cliches are introduced in this classic sic-fi/horror film that was remade by John Carpenter as 'The Thing'. Though not nearly as scary, this original version does have some effective scenes where the military guys battle the title character, and the film develops its plot well.
Rated 13 May 2013
desertpunkDesertPunk
Rated 09 Dec 2012
75
60th
The Carpenter version is a definite improvement, but this movie gets credit for having some of the most insane special effects I've seen pre-1960.
Rated 09 Dec 2012
overratedoverrated
Rated 07 Oct 2012
42
35th
A real disappointment. None of the characters save for the mad scientist stand out in any way (oh wait, there's a woman - she serves coffee), the setup does nothing to build atmosphere, the monster sucks... if you've seen the 1982 remake beforehand do not come in with high expectations.
Rated 07 Oct 2012
moraesfelipemoraesfelipe
Rated 03 Aug 2012
72
75th
It is not focused on special effects like Carpenter's version, but more on intense, electrifying political issues, which makes it a perfect sci-fi product of its time. There is an overall sense of menace that only gets real near the end. But when it does, it's really powerful.
Rated 03 Aug 2012
muutanetmuutanet
Rated 17 Aug 2011
61
51st
Badly aged but the latter half was a pure 50's suspense sci-fi horror. I never thought how much, say, 80's scifi flicks were indebted to it.
Rated 17 Aug 2011
bavafreakBavafreak
Rated 11 Feb 2011
85
73rd
Excellent blend of sci-fi and horror; John Carpenter would improve upon it by sticking closer to the source story, but this one is still very well done and has one memorable shock sequence.
Rated 11 Feb 2011
johnshaftjohnshaft
Rated 27 Jan 2010
73
49th
It isn't helped by comparison to the John Carpenter remake( a rare occasion in which a film isn't helped by comparisons to the remake), but it is still, in its own right, a suspenseful science fiction film.
Rated 27 Jan 2010
peaceanarchyPeaceAnarchy
Rated 10 Mar 2009
69
23rd
More interesting for its concept than its execution. The romantic subplot is worthless, the acting average at best, the pacing inconsistent and the ending much too tidy and preachy. Despite this, it has a couple of good moments of tension and enough interesting ideas at its core that it can be thought provoking if you concentrate on the themes as opposed to the details.
Rated 10 Mar 2009
eveeluneveelun
Rated 14 Jan 2009
77
66th
Maybe a bit dated, but it still has a nice, claustrophobic feel to it and it is well-paced. The monster is never shown for very long, enhancing its own intrigue and menace.
Rated 14 Jan 2009
martintellerMartinTeller
Rated 14 Aug 2007
25
2nd
Absolutely mediocre. Hawks' trademark snappy patter fails miserably here, with not one gag eliciting even a chuckle. The scientific basis for the story is as threadbare as it gets, and the sets and effects are as cheap as they come. The moral of the story seems to be threefold: 1) if you don't know what it is, shoot it; 2) scientists are stupid and weak; 3) women in the workplace are okay, but they should settle down and get married after they've got it out of their system. Unsatisfying.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
thedicemanTheDiceman
Rated 01 Mar 2007
60
62nd
Classic.
Rated 01 Mar 2007
storm57storm57
Rated 26 Oct 2024
92
37th
The claustrophobic, icy atmosphere helps maintain the tension. You can overlook some unintentional silliness because every actor is fully committed to their role.
Rated 26 Oct 2024
redflagredflag
Rated 24 Oct 2024
96
85th
Exceptionally good and a rather strange film. Very different from its '80s incarnation. Besides Carpenter, we can thank this film for Alien, Stalker, Jurassic Park, etc. The enemy this time, being the peak of the Cold War, is not within, but outside, and the masculine nation mobilized to vigilance, through grit and teamwork, will defeat the foreign menace. Effeminate scientists better watch out, though they have their purposes in the nation, too. Great SFX and a bondage scene, too!
Rated 24 Oct 2024
brrrpbrrrp
Rated 19 Feb 2024
55
31st
Pretty hokey but its still a tightly made picture.
Rated 19 Feb 2024
punqPUNQ
Rated 13 Jun 2023
70
96th
The original The Thing. I'm digging the alien fascination that's turns up in movies in the early 1950s! Sure, they take forever to reveal what we're all waiting for, but how that "boss battle" went, I've got no complaints!
Rated 13 Jun 2023
shockularSHOCKULAR
Rated 06 May 2022
65
29th
Grading down significantly after a second watch. This isn't bad, but it's inferior in every way to Carpenter's re-make. The monster is a lot too Frankenstein's monster looking and acting. The performances don't really always capture the gravitas of the situation that's being presented. Still, it's inoffensive 50s monster fun.
Rated 06 May 2022
bruhcringeBruhCringe
Rated 01 Nov 2020
74
54th
????????? - 3 ???????? - 2 ???????? - 2 ????? - 2 ????????? - 2 ????????? ???? - 1 ?????? ????????? - 1 ???? - 2 ?????????? ????? ???? - 2 ??????????? - 2 ??????? - 2 ???? - 1 ?????? - 2 ?????? - 2 ??????????? - 3
Rated 01 Nov 2020
wetwillieswetwillies
Rated 27 Oct 2020
85
59th
Viewed October 26, 2020.
Rated 27 Oct 2020
normalchaosnormalchaos
Rated 06 May 2015
60
28th
There were some great special effects, especially for the 50s, but the alien just wasn't very menacing.
Rated 06 May 2015
salomaordsalomaord
Rated 02 Jan 2015
50
0th
Howard Hawks #2
Rated 02 Jan 2015
nepetaNepeta
Rated 16 Jul 2014
50
17th
Wow those scientists were incompetent! Even I knew that using that thermite bomb was a silly idea. And leaving the heated blanket on top of the ice? What the hell? And that biologist is a bit of an idiot - for all he knows he might be putting the whole human race in danger. The witty banter wasn't that witty and the acting was weak. It held my attention well enough, and there's a couple nice (if a tad silly) ideas and an enjoyable whiff of cheese, but Carpenter's remake is so, so much better.
Rated 16 Jul 2014
glm01glm01
Rated 20 Apr 2014
80
64th
80.000
Rated 20 Apr 2014
ratedarghratedargh
Rated 21 Mar 2014
50
21st
Considering the potential from the short story it's loosely based on and the (vastly superior) Carpenter remake 31 years later, this is a big disappointment. As a monster movie, it's fine. But it doesn't seem like it should be just any monster movie. It lacks the paranoia and claustrophobia that made the others work. It's not entirely fair to judge it in comparison, but even still there is a lot here that doesn't work from the horribly drawn characters to a drab love story. Still entertaining
Rated 21 Mar 2014
tony_irwinTony Irwin
Rated 19 Jul 2013
11
12th
Glad I got the chance to see a classic - but no real reason to want to watch it again.
Rated 19 Jul 2013
gokcanzgokcanz
Rated 26 Oct 2012
50
20th
* Casting, Acting : 6 * Script : 7 * Directing, Aura : 3 * Ease of Viewing : 4 * Naked Eye : 5
Rated 26 Oct 2012
shaunksshaunks
Rated 11 Oct 2012
85
90th
Thrilling.
Rated 11 Oct 2012
bigjimBig_Jim
Rated 04 Sep 2012
6
49th
This film stands up great against it's counterparts in the 50's sci-fi era, with a decent story, interesting writing/acting and some good special effects. It's a little hard to watch now though, with it's slow pace, simple fictional science and "kinda goofy" monster. It's still definitely one of the more entertaining films of it's time/genre though.
Rated 04 Sep 2012
troothTrooth
Rated 08 Jun 2012
65
39th
It was probably a mistake for me to see the John Carpenter remake before I watched this movie. I really think it blows the original out of the water on almost every level. But in some ways, the more recent remake echoes this film a little, especially with the presence of characters who are strictly against killing the Thing. It does represent a huge scientific discovery, and honestly I don't think the guys in this movie made enough of an effort to capture it alive.
Rated 08 Jun 2012
trixrabbiTrixRabbi
Rated 05 Jun 2012
69
28th
It creeps... It crawls... Pretty much describes the movie.
Rated 05 Jun 2012
roofsrunnerroofs_runner
Rated 29 Mar 2012
63
25th
Well, I was intrigued when I got to know this is a horror movie by Howard Hawks. But all they way going into it a feeling of thinness appeared. It is clear the genre was not formed solidly at that time, plus all of us are so adjusted to the bloodshed feasts that there is nothing to be really impressed. Good Hawks worked not only with sci-fi movies.
Rated 29 Mar 2012
theyshoot11theyshoot11
Rated 30 Nov 2011
77
54th
#462
Rated 30 Nov 2011
alex_sAlex S
Rated 28 Oct 2011
8
69th
I'm a sucker for any kind of "B" movie,and this classic's one of the best from the early 50's. Like the awesome "The Day The Earth Stood Still" that came out the same year,this defiantly set a standard for others to follow.
Rated 28 Oct 2011
nobletNoblet
Rated 25 Jul 2011
64
39th
Mostly below average. Terrible characters, questionable writing, and the monster itself just looks dumb. However, I thought that this movie had some pretty good tension, and one awesome moment. At least it inspired some pretty great films.
Rated 25 Jul 2011
prophet92Prophet92
Rated 16 Jul 2011
81
65th
There are a few holes in the narrative(someone covered it with an electric blanket and didn't notice their mistake, really?), and it has nothing on the superior Carpenter version, but it's a damn thrilling piece of 50s sci-fi that uses its bleak environment to build suspense and paranoia. Definitely one of the best of the 50s sci-fi boom, and a classic of the same stature of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers".
Rated 16 Jul 2011
jeg2jeg2
Rated 01 May 2011
65
70th
The epitome of suspense despite few other redeeming merits.
Rated 01 May 2011
jordandcfcJordanDcFc
Rated 22 Apr 2011
82
71st
Some memorable and remarkable scenes in this film but I saw Carpenters version first so my viewing of this was a little one-sided considering how much I loved the remake. This was and still is though, a very suspenseful, well made sci-fi flick. The dialogue is great and the characters are well devoloped and intereesting. There is also a lot of humour as well, which helps the movie along during the in-between scenes.
Rated 22 Apr 2011
glmglm
Rated 30 Dec 2010
78
61st
78.125
Rated 30 Dec 2010
theyshoot10theyshoot10
Rated 15 Jan 2010
68
36th
631
Rated 15 Jan 2010
billkerwinbillkerwin
Rated 21 Dec 2009
78
35th
Pretty good for a low budget horror film. The overlapping dialogue works very well.
Rated 21 Dec 2009
stanthecaddystanthecaddy
Rated 24 Sep 2009
85
76th
I enjoyed it, but that may be partially because I'm such a big fan of the John Carpenter remake. The effects and the scares certainly don't have anything on the Carpenter version, but it's still a fun piece of vintage '50s sci-fi. The dialogue is a bit difficult to understand sometimes, with characters speaking back and forth at a rapid pace, but it's not an overriding problem. Just a fun movie to watch.
Rated 24 Sep 2009
cinemahellcinema_hell
Rated 21 Sep 2009
65
21st
Everything here is campy: the dialogues, situations, make-up and special effects...
Rated 21 Sep 2009
gogokaingogokain
Rated 30 Aug 2009
75
80th
Probably the best old movie I've ever seen.
Rated 30 Aug 2009
theyshoot08theyshoot08
Rated 19 Dec 2008
71
42nd
581
Rated 19 Dec 2008
castrophCastroph
Rated 01 Nov 2008
4
28th
Ugh...doesn't even terrify.
Rated 01 Nov 2008
teeceeteecee
Rated 06 Oct 2008
40
54th
Som tidsbillede er den fænomenal - mandschauvinisme, cigaretter i hobetal og døre der åbnes og lukkes konstant - uhygge...?
Rated 06 Oct 2008
theyshoot07theyshoot07
Rated 02 Mar 2008
70
52nd
# 593
Rated 02 Mar 2008
irvinejumpirvinejump
Rated 14 Aug 2007
50
34th
James Arness in a carrot suit
Rated 14 Aug 2007
stainStain
Rated 31 Mar 2007
50
33rd
Yeah yeah yeah, it's a "classic". However, I kept thinking of Isaac Asimov's description of it as the worst movie ever made, as the makers took a simply wonderful little John W. Campbell, Jr. story and turned it into The Walking Carrot Movie. Also, this is a movie in which all the smartest people are portrayed as Traitors To Humanity -- a distressing anti-intellectualism that's so totally against what all science fiction is supposed to be about. Carpenter's remake really blows this movie away
Rated 31 Mar 2007

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